Apparatus for coating



R. -J. RANDALL APPARATUS FOR comme May 8,' 1945.

Filed .June 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. J. RANDALL APPARATUS FOR coA'rING May 8, 19.45.

Filed .June 14,'1941 s sheets-sheet `2 Patented May 8, 1945 *e UNITED' smfrrss PATENT oFFlcE APPARATUS FOR COATING Robert J. Randall, East Orange, N. J., assigner to Reiss Manufacturin g' Corp., Jersey City, N. J.,

a corporation of Delaware Application June 14, 1941, Serial No. 398,149

s Claims. (Cl. sil-17) The present invention relates to an vapparatus for coating and, more particularly, to machines for applying coating material to elongated sheets or strips of flexible material, such as tape ,or the like.

The primary object ofv the invention is to improve the art of coating elongated sheets' or strips, with such materials as thermoplastic adhesives or the` like. is to improve the accuracy of control of the application of the coating materials, with particular reference to position,l width and thickness of the applied coating.

l A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for applying to relatively narrow strips, such as tape, an accurately positioned,

It must be understood, however, that theinvention is not limited to the manufacture of tape for the uses and purposes described in the above identitled application, as it is useful in the broad field of coating, andv may be employed in the manufacture of many other types of articles.

Other. and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from acon- An' object of the invention A narrow stripe of coating material, such as thermoplastic adhesive, of less width than the tape to which the stripe is applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for so coating a tape or the like with a thermoplastic `adhesive as to prevent wrinkling, milling, twisting or curving in the s finished product.

Another object oi' the invention is'to provide an improved, high-speed apparatus for accurately ,coating tape with such an adhesive and for drying or setting the adhesive in an improved manner, before it `is reeled up onto avspool or the like.

Although not conilned to such-use, the invention of the present application is particularly adapted for the'manufacture of adhesivelycoated tape employed in the tailoring industry for such purposes as securing in place, stiiening lining materials for coats` and the like, in acv cordance with the disclosure of the ccpending` application of Raymond H, Reiss and Robert J. Randall, Serial No. 398,148, illed June 14, 194i, now Patent 2,275,090. AAs pointed out inl that application, itis desirable izo-provide -a tape of textile material or the like, havingfone. surface thereof coated with a stripe of thermoplastic adhesive, extending substantially from one-margin of the tape, so that the uncoated portion '-maybe sewed to the edge ofthe garment plies and the'I adhesively coated portion of the. tape secured by the application of heat and pressure to a'. mar.

ginal portion oi' the stiil'ening lining or the like. The present invention provides a new and i1'n.

proved apparatus for applying to a. tape (such as a woven textile tape) an accurately positioned stripe of thermoplastic adhesive of accurately controlled thickness.

lapplicator assembly and tape tensioning device.

Figure 5 is an elevation, looking from the left of Figure 4. s

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectionalview of the v adhesive applicator head shown in Figure 4. Figure '7 isa plan view Jf the parts shown Figure 6, and

Figure Bis an end elevation, looking from the left of Figures 6 and 7.

The operating elements of the apparatus of the present invention are mounted-upon a frame comprising a table I0 supported by front legs lI and rear legs I2, the table being made up of longitudinal side frame'members I3, I4, transverse end members I5, I6-andlintermediate transverse channel members Il, I8, I9-, 20, 2|, '22 and 23.

An upwardly extending arm 25 carried by the l frame at'the forward end-f the machine supof the ltape to or slightly short .of the center line 54,5'.

ports 'a fixed, horizontally projecting rod 26, upon which a spool 21 carrying a supply of uncoated tape' 28 may be mounted for unwinding rotation with respectthereto. The tape 28 is drawn from the 'spool' by a roll 29, described below; through atensioning device 30 and `an adhesive applicator I8. From the roll 29, the coated tapeis guided through a drying. zone alongV 4a sp1ra1 path 'through a` plurality ofl loops 32,0ver rolls 33, 34

of reduced diameter. -At the end of the drying zone, the strip is ledr over a freely' rotatable roll and then back to the forward end of the machine where a' travellingguide or level Winder V36 delivers the same to a spool 3.1,.driven by a relaf tively light-pressure slip type friction clutchA adapted to apply only slight tensionv tothe tape in rewindlng the same.;V AThe roll may-peripherally contact the roll 29 and be driven thereby,

the tape being carried' between the rolls 35 and 29- in the manner o-f a pinch roll assembly, or the roll 35 may be spaced from the roll 29.

The coating assembly is carried by a post 40, secured at its lower end in a pedestal 4| mounted upon the transverse frame members 2|, 22. At

the upper end of the post 49, there is a horizontally projecting bracket 43, supporting a coating material reservoir 44 having a downwardly projecting discharge pipe 45 provided with a valve 46,

` adapted to be closed by manipulation of a handle 41. The lower end of the valve casing carries an adhesive applicator head represented generally at 48 and described in detail below.

The upper, open end of the reservoir 44 may be closed by an air-tight cover 44a, clamped in closed position by a bolt `44b threaded into a bail 44e carried by the reservoir, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. VAn air line 49 is adapted to lead air under predetermined, regulated pressure from any suitable source to the interior of the reservoir, to eiect. a force feed of the relatively high I viscous adhesive from the reservoir to the applicator head.

l The-adhesive employed is preferably a cellulose -derivative composition, such as cellulose acetate l ing application, such thermoplastic adhesives are highly satisfactory, since they dry readily at room temperatures, are non-tacky at room temperatures, are not adversely affected by standard cleaning lfluids and are rendered adhesive only upon the application of relatively high degrees of temperature. The invention of the above application, of course, can be practiced with adhesives other than thermoplastic adhesives and the present invention contemplatesapplying adhesives of, any type to tapes, sheets or strips.

f 3 'I'he post 40 alsocarries a rearwardly projecting bracket 59 having a plate 5| secured thereto, `from which a pair of spaced, tape tensioning pins 52, 53 project laterally. The bracket 50 also carries a post 54; to which there `is securedl an upwardly and rearwardly projecting leaf spring stantially the entire width of the tape, as desired.

duit 63 and extending to and opening at the rear end of the block. The channel is dened by a flat wall 66, parallel to the surface 6l and the' adjacent surface ofthe tape 28 and spaced a predetermined distance therefrom. The channel also has side walls 61, 66, one approaching but preferably spaced from the center line of the tape and vthe other positioned as closely tothe a ljacent side edge of the ltape as is practical.

-It will be understood that, as the tape is drawn beneath the applicator head, adhesive flows under.

pressure from the reservoir 44 through the conduit 63 to the groove or channel 65, where it is-V as is practical,v since the stripe is preferably ap-I plied to the surface of the tape as closely as possible to one edge thereof. Care is taken, however, to prevent the adhesive from being applied to the edge face of the tape, since if that were done, the adhesive might work around to the opposite surface thereof, which is undesirable.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the stripe is applied to one face of the tape ad-A ljacent only onemargin thereof, but, by making obvious changes in the number, position or size of the groove 65, the adhesive may be applied at any other relative positions or applied over sub- From the applicator head 48, the tape is led over the drawing roll 29 which preferably comprises an enlarged section of the elongated roll 33, the section 29 being covered with friction increasing material, such as rubber or the like. The roll 33 is'carried by a shaft 10 `iournalled in bearings 1 I, 12 carried by pedestals 13, 14, supported upon the transverse frame member 23.

As the tape is drawn under the applicator head l46, ity is placed under substantial tension by reason f the fact that it is led under and over. the tension pins 52, 53 and over the leaf spring 55. Hence, the tape is ,stretched somewhat as the adhesive is applied,thereby enlarging the interstices in the tape and facilitating the impregnation 55, adapted tourge the tape 28 into firm contact with the undersurface of the. adhesive applicator head 48, the tensionron the spring bneing adjusted by changing the angular position of the post 54. As shown in/Figures 6`8, the applicator head 48 comprises a. central block 51 lhaving an upwardly projecting pipe section 58 and downwardly.

projecting `side guide members 59, 6B, which may be integral with the block or secured to the side faces thereof by .any appropriate means. The

lower surface 6I of the block 511s substantially I plane throughout the major portion thereof and is normal to the side walls 59, 60, but at its forward end is rounded and curved upwardly as at 62, to facilitate engagement ofthe tape 28 therel with. The block 51 is provided with a vertical bore 63 extending through the pipe section 58 and comthereof by the adhesive.

The tape is delivered from the enlarged 'section-29 of the upper roll 33 by a downward run to the'roll 34, which is of the same diameteras the reduced section of roll 33. The roll 34 is secured toyshaft 16 journalled in'bearings 11, 18 'carried by rods-19 v80 hung from the pedestals l13, 14 supported byithe transverse member 23. A chain 8l, trained about sprockets 82,v 83 fast on the shafts 13, 16, respectively, causes the rolls to be positively rotated ,in unison.

Since the tape drawing roll section 29 is of larger diameter than the rolls 33, 34, it moves atgreater peripheral speed than\the last-mentioned rolls, thereby permitting the tension on the tape as the latter leaves the enlarged section 29 to be relieved and permitting the tape to contract or shrink to its original condition. The bearings 11, 18 :IlorI the lower roll shaft 16, carry a transversely extending plate 85, dis- Y posed behind the downwardly travelling-runs of the tape in the loops l32. The plate hasforwardly projecting pins 86, appropriately spaced therealong, as a, guide comb for the loops and maintaining them in properly spaced relation. A ,similar plate 85', kcarried by the upper The adhesive on the tape is dried or set, asl` it passes through the loops trained about the rolls 33, 34 and any appropriate means may be provided to facilitate this action, such as heaters. blowers, infra-red ray lamps or the like.-

The last upwardly travelling run of the tape is trained for movement over' the pinch or'idler roll 35, from which it is drawn through the level winding apparatus 35, to the reel 31. Since level winding devices are well understood in the art, the one shown diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings need not be described in detail. It comprises a continuously rotating shaft 90 having left and right-hand threads in its periphery, a'traveller 3| mountedfor traversing movement along the shaft under thecontrol of a pivoted thread follower (not shown), a pair of U-shaped guides 32, 83 carried by the traveller,

and stops 94, 35 adapted to limit the movements of the traveller. The shaft 9|! is rotated by a chain 91 trainedY about a sprocket S8 fast on the shaft, as hereinafter explained. The level winding assembly as a whole is supported by posts S9 (Fig. l) carried by the transverse frame member I7.

The wind-up Spool a1 is nxed upon a shaft wn' journalled in bearings IM, |02 mounted upon short, longitudinally extending channel members |03, |04, spanning the space between the end frame l5 and the transverse member I1, the shaft |88 being unsupported at one of its ends, to permit the spoolV 31 to be placed'thereon and removed therefrom. V Any appropriate means may be provided to establish a positive driving connection between the shaft |88 and the spool 31 and the shaft' carries a sprocket |85 about which the chain 81 is trained, whereby the threaded shaft SII rotates at predetermined ratio with respect to the spool 31.

An electric motor lll) having a base is hung from the undersurface of the transverse frame members i1, I8, and the motor shaft carries a worm H2 in meshwithv a worm follower H3 on Ia counter-shaft 'H4 having a sprocket H5 on one' end and a sheave H5 on its other end. The sprocket ||5 isy connected by a chain ||1 to a sprocket H8 journalled about the shaft Aum and connected theretcby a normally supping friction clutch H3. Hence, a relatively light rotational force is imparted to the shaft |08 ,and the reel 31 to wind up the coated tape under substantially constant, relatively light tension. This arrangement also serves to com- `relieved. This would result pensate for decreasing speed of rotation'on the verse frame members 2|,l22. V Asis Wen-unde-,

stood in the art relating to such variable 'speed transmission devices, when vthe variable assembly is swung in one direction or'thepther,

the eifective diameter of one sheave is increased and the other v is correspondingly fdecreased,

thereby varying thegspeed ratio" between th driving beit izo and the driven beit m. j g. Y A sprocket |32 fast `on the counter-shaft |29.`

is connected by an upwardly extending chain |33 to a sprocket |34 xed to a stub shaft |35jour'- nailed in bearings las, |31 carried-by (supports, projecting upwardly from the transversev frame p members 2|, 22. The roller 35,V which ldelivers the -tape^from the drying zone to the wind-up mechanism, is journalled `upon the shaft |35 for free rotation relative thereto. A sprocket..

|38, fast onthe shaft |35,`is .connected by fa chain |39 to a relatively largesprocket |40 xed to the shaft 10 of the upperroll 3|. As pointed out above, roll 33 is connected to the lower roll 34 by a chain 8| trained about sprocket 82, 83 fast on the roll shafts. It is thought that the operation of the apparatus of the present invention will be entirely clear from the foregoing description. A supply of tape 28 wound on spool 21 is placed in the apparatus by slipping the spool upon the supporting rod 26. In the specific embodiment referred to above, the tape is formed of Woven fabric material, substantially three-eighths of an inch in` width. The tape is led through the' ten-sion device 30 'and under the applicator head 3|', from which point it passes over the, drawing roll 29 and around the elongated rolls of reduced diameter 33, 34, in a generallyA spiral path. As the traction take place before the adhesive has had time to dry or set. If the'adhesive were permitted to dry while Athe tape was inthe stretched condition, the coated portion would not vbe able to contractV when the tension wasA eventuallyr wrinkled,- curved or ruilied eilect in thev finished product, due to the unequal contraction of different portions of the tape.

Itis also important in producing a coated tape in accordance with and for vthe purposes of the present invention, that the tape be in the natural, non-tensioned condition, as` distinguished from a longitudinally compressed, compacted or condensed condition, which would result in a crepe eiect in the finished product, making the product elastic Vcelongitudinally stretchable; Where the term natural, non-tensioned condition isY used in the appended claims,` it refers to a condition where the tape is subjected neitherto longitudinal compression, compacting, condensing nor stretching forces.

The last run of the tapein the drying zoneis led upwardly over the outfeed roll 35, 'and then the axially movable,` intermediate head |23 drives a sheave |2I fast on coimter-shaft |23, journalledin bearings |38, supported beneath the frame by hangers 13| by the trans-y through thelevel Winder to the spool 31, where .the finished product is wound up. When lthe spool has been nlled, it may be removed and another empty spool substituted therefor.

It must be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction or ar-v in an uneven,.

vrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described above. 'Ihe applicator head may be modiiied in manyV ways that will be apparent to one skilled in the art, if the characteristics of the coating or coatings to be applied are to be changed. If it is desired to apply adhesive or other coating material in a plurality of superimposed layers or coats, a plurality of applicator heads may 4'be 'positioned to operate successively upon the strip material. Moreover, if it is desired to apply a thermoplastic adhesive in the absence of a solvent, that operation may be accomplished by associating appropriate heaters with the adhesive reservoir, to maintain the material in plastic condition at alltimes. Simil lar heaters may be associated withvthe applicator head and the conduit led thereto, if it is desired to raise the fluidity of the adhesive, with or without the use of solvents.

g -It must be further understood that the invenvtion is not conned to the use of thermoplastic tape as it is drawn through said assembly. means for receiving the coated tape from the tape draw-` ing means, and means associatedwitli said receiving means for moving the tape in non-compressed relation at a slightly lowerrate of speed than said drawing means, thereby to relieve the tension in the tape and to move the same in its l natural, non-tensioned condition while permitting the adhesive to set.

'5. An4 apparatus forcoating tape or the like comprising a coating assembly, a-tape drawing 1 rollV positioned beyond the assembly, tape tensioning means ahead of the assembly, means for rotating the drawing roll at a predetermined tape receiving, guiding and advancing roll means peripheral speed to draw the tape -through the assembly'under tension at a corresponding speed,

. positioned to receive the coated tape from said adhesives or in fact to the application of adhes sive materials to tapes, as .the apparatus disclosed herein is useful in the broad field of coating or otherwise treating strip or sheet material. It should be understood therefore that the invention includes all modiiications, as to apparatus, coming within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for coating tapeor the like drawing -roll and to accommodate the tape until the coating has set, and means for rotating the receiving, guiding and advancing roll means at a lower peripheral speed thanv said drawing roll, whereby the tension on the tape is relieved and the tape assumes its natural, non-tensioned condition prior to the setting of said coating.

6. An apparatus for coating tape or the likeA comprising a coating assembly, a tape drawing comprising means'for moving thetape in the direction of its length, meansfor applying tension to a section of the moving tape, means for applying a continuous layer of coating composition to one surface of the tape while under Itension, means for relieving the tension in the tape substantially immediately after the application of the coating composition and before the latter has ried or set, and means for guiding the tape in its natural, non-tensioned condition through an elongated path to dry or set the coating composition.

' 3. An apparatus for applying a relatively narrow stripe of thermoplastic adhesivematerial to lone surface of a tape which comprises adhesive depositing means, means for drawing the tape therepast, means for applying predetermined tension to the tape assit is drawn past said deposliting means, means for guiding the ecoated tape through'an elongated, substantially spiral path including a plurality of -successive loops, and

2. An apparatusv for coating tape or thelike. comprising means for moving the tape lengthwise.

roll of predetermined diameter beyond thevassembly, tape tensioning means ahead of the assembly, means for rotating the roll at a predetermined speed to draw the tape through the assembly under tension at a corresponding'speed,

\ tape receiving, guiding and advancing roll means of smaller diameter than the tape drawing roll and positioned to receive the coated tape therefrom, means for rotating said roll means at the same speed as the drawing. roll, whereby` tension in the tape is relieved when the tape is delivered by the larger roll to the smaller roll means.

7. lin-apparatus for coating tape or the like l comprising a tape coating assembly, tape tensioning .means ahead of the assembly, an elongated positively driven roll beyond the assembly having an enlargedv section aligned with the assembly and the-.tensioning means and adapted to draw the tape under tension therethrough and a section of reduced diameter adjacent thereto, and means for guiding the tape from theen'larged section through a plurality of loops over the section of reduced diameter, whereby the speed of e l the tape moving through the loops is reduced as compared-with its movement over'the enlarged I section, and tension in the tape is relieved.

8. An apparatus forcoating tape or'thelike comprising a coating assembly. tape tensioning. means ahead of the assembly, 'an elongated positively driven roll beyond the assemblyhaving' 1 an enlarged sectlonaligned with'the assembly and the tensioning means and adapted to draw the tape under tension therethrough and a section of reduced diameter adjacent thereto, asecond elongated roll spaced from the iii-st and posmeans for relieving the tension 'on the'tape as it.

, passes through-said loops, to effect drying oi' the adhesive whileA the tape is in non-tensioned condition. v. '3 4./ Apparatus for applying-a relatively narrow stripe' of .thermoplastic (adhesive to one surface'v of an elo gated tape, comprising an adhesive deiting assembly,'means for drawing the tape A through the assembly :at a predetermined speed, means for applying predetermined tension tothe itively driven at the same. rate asl the. iirst rollA and of a diameter equal to the reduced section of theV rstrolLandmeans for. guiding theftape from the enlarged section of-the first roll a plurality .of 1019!6v trained/about' the. vreduced section ,thereof and about the second roll, where-'I vby ,the speed of. thetape moving through the l loops is reduced 'and tension on thev tape is re-v Y ,lieved as itjis'reoeived by the reduced rolls. 

